SAM (for “Sustainable Automotive Mobility”) is a small and appealing 3-wheeler electric car ideal for commuting over short to medium distances in urban and suburban areas. SAM has just been officially launched in May 2010 and is presently available through a network of qualified partners in Switzerland, Germany and Poland.

SAM is the brainchild of Swiss Cree Ltd. and the industrial design company Bene Creative Resource and was initially presented in 2001 as a test-serial encompassing 80 units for public field testing and market studies, which drew a lot of attention from both, public and media. However a lack of venture capital prevented a timely launch and stalled the project for quite some time.

But the development team was not defeated and their wit, persistence and creativity finally paid off. Not only did they acquire the licensing rights for the SAM and rise the necessary funds by privately issuing titles for their own, in 2007 founded company Swiss SAM Group Ltd., but they also developed a proprietary battery pack, replacing the former acid lead batteries, and established industrial partnerships, the main one being with Impact Automotive Technologies in Poland for further development and small scale production.

SAM Group Ltd. has a clear strategy, based on organic growth, customer support and on a strong vision for:

Pollution free Mobility for people in urban and suburban regions

A well defined and convincing overall concept

Low production and distribution costs – high affordability

An attractive and distinct design

The fun factor – an enjoyable driving experience

The following videos are from the initial 2001 test series – nevertheless they convey some of the fun experienced when piloting a SAM

SAM being of a minimalistic yet attractive and functional design is not just another EV hitting the road, but a confession to a lifestyle meeting all expectations in regard to ecology, economy and efficiency, and apart from offering an earth friendly mode of transport it certainly caters to the emotions too.